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Code of Ethics

CODE OF ETHICS

PREAMBLE

The preservation of the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles is vital to the responsible discharge of obligations in the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. This code of Ethics sets forth the fundamental principles and rules considered essential to this purpose.

Every individual who is a full member, an associate member, and/or an affiliate member of the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall abide by this Code of Ethics. Any action that violates the spirit and purpose of this Code shall be considered unethical. Failure to specify any particular responsibility or practice in the Code of Ethics shall not be construed as denial of the existence of such responsibilities or practices.

The fundamentals of ethical conduct are described by Principles of Ethics and by Rules of Ethics as they relate to responsibility to persons served, to the public, and to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.

Principles of Ethics form the underlying moral basis for the Code of Ethics. Individuals shall observe these principles as affirmative obligations under all conditions of professional activity.

Rules of Ethics are specific statements of minimally acceptable professional conduct or of prohibitions and are applicable to all individuals.

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS I

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally or participants in research and scholarly activities.

Rules of Ethics

A. Individuals shall provide all services competently.

B. Individuals shall use every resource, including referral when appropriate, to ensure that high-quality service is provided.

C. Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of age, gender or gender identification, race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disabling condition.

D. Individuals shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and possible effects of services rendered and products dispensed, and they shall inform participants in research about the possible effects of their participation in research conducted.

E. Individuals shall evaluate the effectiveness of services rendered and of products dispensed and shall provide services or dispense products only when benefit can reasonably be expected.

F. Individuals shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure, directly or by implication; however, they may make a reasonable statement of prognosis.

G. Individuals shall not evaluate or treat speech, language, or hearing disorders solely by correspondence. This does not preclude delivery of services by telecommunication (for example, telehealth, telepractice, e-health).

H. Individuals shall maintain adequate records of professional services rendered, research and scholarly activities conducted, and products dispensed, and shall allow access to these records when appropriately authorized.

I. Individuals shall not reveal, without authorization, any professional or personal information about the person served professionally or identified participants involved in research and scholarly activities, or unless doing so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community or is otherwise required by law.

J. Individuals shall not charge for services not rendered, nor shall they misrepresent services rendered, products dispensed, or research and scholarly activities conducted

K. Individuals shall enroll and include persons as participants in research or as subjects of teaching demonstrations only if their participation is voluntary, without coercion and with their informed consent.

L. Individuals shall withdraw from professional practice when substance abuse or an emotional or mental condition may adversely affect the quality of services they render.

M. Individuals shall exercise appropriate universal infection control precautions for the protection of those they serve and themselves.

N. Individuals shall not engage in sexual activity with a patient/client or other individual over whom professional authority is exercised.

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS II

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to achieve and maintain the highest level of professional competence and performance.

Rules of Ethics

A. Individuals shall engage in the provision of clinical services only when they hold the appropriate credential or when they are supervised by an individual who holds the appropriate credential.

B. Individuals shall engage in only those aspects of the professions that are within the scope of their professional practice and competence, considering their level of education, training, and experience.

C. Individuals shall not misrepresent the credentials of assistants, technicians, support personnel, students, Clinical Fellows, or any others under t heir supervision and they shall inform those they serve professionally of the name and professional credentials of persons providing the services.

D. Individuals shall engage in lifelong learning to maintain and enhance professional competence and performance.

E. Individuals shall not delegate tasks that require the unique skills, knowledge and judgment that are within the scope of their profession to assistants, technicians, support personnel, or any nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory responsibility.

F. Individuals may delegate tasks related to provision of clinical services to assistants, technicians, support personnel, or any nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory responsibility.

G. Individuals may delegate tasks related to provision of clinical services that require the unique skills, knowledge, and judgment that are within the scope of practice of their profession to students only if those services are appropriately supervised. The responsibility for client welfare remains with the licensed individual.

H. Individuals shall prohibit any of their professional staff from providing services or conducting research activities that exceed the staff member's competence, considering the staff member's level of education, training, and experience.

I. Individuals shall ensure that all equipment used in the provision of services or research and scholarly activities is in proper working order and is properly calibrated.

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS III

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to the public by promoting public understanding of the professions, by supporting the development of services designed to fulfill the unmet needs of the public, and by providing accurate information in all communications involving any aspect of the professions, including the dissemination of research findings and scholarly activities, and the promotion, marketing, and advertising of products and services.

Rules of Ethics

A. Individuals shall not misrepresent their credentials, competence, education, training, experience, or scholarly or research contributions.

B. Individuals shall not participate in professional activities that constitute a conflict of interest.

D. Individuals shall not defraud or engage in any scheme to defraud in connection with obtaining payment, reimbursement, or grants for services rendered, research conducted, or products dispensed.

E. Individuals' statements to the public shall provide accurate information about the nature and management of communication disorders, about the professions, about professional services, about products for sale, and about research and scholarly activities.

F. Individuals' statements to the public - advertising, announcing, and marketing their professional services, reporting research results, and promoting products - shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall not contain misrepresentations.

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS IV

Individuals shall honor their responsibilities to the professions and their relationship with colleagues, students, and members of other professions and disciplines.

Rules of Ethics

A. Individuals shall uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain harmonious interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept their professions’ self-imposed standards.

B. Individuals shall prohibit anyone under their supervision from engaging in any practice that violates the Code of Ethics.

D. Individuals shall not engage in any form of unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment or power abuse.

E. Individuals shall not engage in any other form of conduct that adversely reflects on the professions or on the individual’s fitness to serve persons professionally.

F. Individuals shall refer those served professionally solely on the basis of the interest of those being referred and not on any personal interest, financial or otherwise.

G. Individuals shall assign credit to those who have contributed to a publication, presentation, or product, and shall reference the source when using other person’s ideas, research, presentations, or products in written, oral, or any other media presentation or summary. Credit shall be assigned in proportion to the contribution and only with the contributor's consent.

H. Individuals' statements to colleagues about professional services, research results, and products shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall contain no misrepresentation.

I. Individuals shall not provide professional services without exercising independent professional judgment, regardless of referral source or prescription.

J. Individuals shall not discriminate in their relationships with colleagues, students, and members of allied professions on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, gender identification, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or disability.

K. Individuals who have reason to believe that the Code of Ethics has been violated shall inform the Board of Ethics.

L. Individuals shall cooperate fully with the Board of Ethics in its investigation and adjudication of matters related to this Code of Ethics.